These easy kitchen plumbing maintenance tips will save you money and time in the long run.
Are you guilty of using your garbage disposal to get rid of large kitchen scraps like melon rinds and corn husks? Many people do this, but it harms the garbage disposal unit by dulling the blades and causing blockages. Garbage disposals are not designed to handle large kitchen scraps, they are only meant to be used for the small food bits that you can’t reasonably stop from washing down the drain.
Make a habit of inspecting the pipes under your kitchen sink regularly. Give them a thorough once over, checking for signs of damage including rust, discolouration, corrosion, cracks, and excessive condensation. If you notice a problem, call a plumber right away instead of waiting for the issue to get worse.
Got a clogged kitchen drain? Reach for a plunger instead of that bottle of liquid drain cleaner. Store-bought liquid drain cleaners contain corrosive chemicals that get rid of clogs by eating away at them, but unfortunately they also eat away at your pipes. Regular use of these products will corrode your pipes over time, resulting in leaky pipes that you will need to replace earlier than you would have otherwise.
Fix that leak as soon as you notice it, don’t ignore it. Even what looks like a minor leak can waste a large amount of water if left unchecked, not to mention it is likely to become a bigger leak or a more severe problem if you don’t have it repaired immediately. Save yourself the pain later and get it fixed now.
A dirty or blocked aerator can cause a number of issues, from low water pressure to uneven water flow to faucet leaks. Take the time to clean out your kitchen faucet’s aerator every 6 months or so. To do this, unscrew the end of your faucet (you may need to use pliers if it doesn’t come off easily with your hands), locate the aerator–it’s the metal mesh screen–and remove it, then gently clean it with a little vinegar and a toothbrush. Reassemble and screw back onto your faucet, and you’re done.
Following the above tips goes a long way in maintaining your kitchen plumbing, but even with the best care, things break sometimes. When that happens, call Butler at 780-432-3947.